Display stand



F. PFOUS DISPLAY STAND June 28, 1932.

Filed March 9, 1931 3 Sheets-$heet 1 Cir/tonnage June 28. s

DISPLAY STAND Filed March 9, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I June 28, 1932.PFOUS 1,865,386

DI SPLAY STAND Filed March 9, 1931 3 Sheets$heet 3 Patented June 28,1932 PATENT OFFECE FRANK IPFOUS, OF COSI-IOGTON, OHIO DISPLAY STANDApplication filed March 9,

This invention relates to display stands and, among other objects, aimsto provide an improved all metal stand, which may easily be assembledand dismantled, and improved thin sheet metal shelves so shaped andconstructed as to provide a maximum amount of display space.

Other aims and advantages of the invention will appear in thedescription, when con- 16 sidered in connection with the accompanyingdrawihgs, wherein Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a metal display standembodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 3-3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of stand embodying theinvention;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views of the modified form; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary side elevation of a collapsed or folded leg.

Referring particularly to the drawings, the stand is shown in Figs. 1and 2 as being supported by a tripod having legs 10 made of T-shapedstructural steel and pivotally connected at their upper ends to a toppiece or block 11 Which has bifurcated arms or brack ets 12 to receivethe middle flanges of the T bars. The shape of the end faces of thebrackets is such as to limit the opening movement of the legs and topermit them to be I folded inwardly until they are approximatelyparallel. Further, the legs are preferably made of sections of anydesired length and so connected that the lowermost sections may befolded upwardly and inwardly. In this q example, the abutting ends ofthe sections are square and the inwardly projecting or middle flangesare pivotally secured together by pairs of flat links 13 and ordinarybolts or rivets 14. The lower sections when collapsed and foldedinwardly will permit the tripod or support to be shipped in a relativelysmall crate or package.

A series of fabricated, sheet metal shelves 15 are shown as beingsecured to the legs of the tripod and arranged in stepped formation.While the shelves may be stamped out 1931. Serial No. 521,294.

of a single piece of sheet metal, they are here shown as being made ofthree similar pieces of sheet metal bent in the form of channels havingnarrow inner flanges 16 and wide outer flanges 17. The outer verticalflanges are preferably crimped inwardly to present smooth, reinforcedupper edges and to secur he pieces together where they overlap. Thepieces overlap at the legs and are convenient ly secured together byspot welding or by small rivets, as shown. The narrow inner flanges 16are also crimped or reversely bent to present smooth upper edges andthey are cut'oif so that they will fit between the legs of the tripod orsupport. The construction of the shelves is such that they may be slidon the tripod one after the other because each one has a generallytriangular opening. For the sake of appearance the outer corner portionsare cut away so that all of the shelves are hexagonal.

All of the shelves are secured to the legs of the support or tripod toprevent them'from tilting when loaded on one side and also to preventthe legs from collapsing. For this purpose, sheet metal, angle brackets18 are shown as being suitably secured to the bottoms of the shelvesadjacent to the legs so that their downwardly projecting flanges contactWith the outside faces of the leg 80 flanges and they have openingsregistering with openings through the leg flanges. These angle bracketsnot only serve as convenient securing means for the shelves, but alsoreinforce them so that they will support relatively heavy loads ofdisplay articles. The brackets of the lower shelf are preferably securedby small stove bolts 19 to the legs so that '1 this shelf constitutes arigid brace for the legs; while the brackets of the shelves are securedby ordinary cotter pins 20 (Fig. 1). This arrangement permits theshelves to be assembled on or removed from the support very quickly.

To increase the shelf space, substantially triangular, sheet metalplates 21, cut away at the corners and having downwardly bent sideflanges 22 to fit over the flanges '16 are adapt-, ed to be placedbetween the legs and supported on any or all of the shelves. If desired,1%

however, these supplemental shelves may be removed or omitted and theavailable space utilized for an electric lamp or illuminated sign (notshown).

An advertising sign 23 of any suitable size or shape may be suitablysecured on top of the stand conveniently by means of a rod or bar 24;conveniently screwed into the block or top piece 11. In this example,the sign happens to be rectangular and is rotatably mounted on the bar24.

For shipping purposes, the support or tripod may be collapsed andfolded, as hereinbefore described, and the shelves may be nested.Further, the advertising sign and its supporting bar may be removed andpacked with the shelves. The whole thing can then be packed in a smallcarton which occupies a minimum of shipping space. In fact, the partsfor several stands may be packed in the same space that would berequired for one assembled stand.

- The modified form of stand shown in Figs. 4 to 7 inclusive haschannel-shaped legs 10 made of relatively thin sheet metal. The upperends straddle and are pivoted to the arms 12' on the top piece 11. Thefoldable ends or extensions of the legs are sufiiciently large totelescope over them and are pivotally connected thereto conveniently byrivets. The arrangement is such that the ends of the webs of the. legswill rub against the inner faces of the websof the extensions when. theextensions are swung open and. the telescoped ends will snap into place.

The sheet metal shelves 15 may be like those shown in Figs; 1 to 3.However, the angle brackets for securing them to legs are omitted andfoldable, channel-shapedv brackets-.25 having curved: arms 26straddling'and;

pivoted to the legs,.providesupports on which the shelves are adapted torest. In this instance, the shelves are bolted to the foldableleg-brackets by ordinary stove bolts. It will be noted that the shapeand pivotal. connections of the brackets are such that the inner endsoftheir webs abut the legs and support the brackets horizontally (Figs. 4and 5-). When the tripod is folded, all of the brackets maybe foldedagainst the legs to. occupy a minimum; of space. Moreover, the shelvesmay be nested into a smaller space than shelves having attached anglebrackets. In fact, the modified form can be manufactured at a lower costthan the first form and is preferred when. the load to-be carried is nottoo great.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the improveddisplay stands are very" easy to assemble and: dismantle and arevery-strong and durable. Moreover,.tliey can bemanufacturedvery cheaplydue to thefact that the principal fabricated parts are made.-

of sheet metal and structural steel.

Obviously, the: present invention is not re-n stricted to the particularembodiments thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is notindispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly,since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations andsub-combinations.

WVhat I claim is 1. A display stand comprising, in combination, a tripodsupport having foldable legs; inwardly foldable extensions on said legs;a series of channel-shaped, sheet metal shelves surrounding the legs andadapted to be slipped over the tripod; flanged brackets on the shelvesadjacent to the legs; bolts securing the brackets on the lower shelf tothe foldable extensions of the legs whereby said lower shelf constitutesa brace for the tripod; and means removably to secure the brackets ofthe other shelves to each of the legs. I

2. A display stand comprising, in combination, a tripod support havingfoldable structural steel legs adapted to be folded inwardlysubstantially parallel with each other; a plurality of stepped sheetmetal shelves surrounding the legs andv having triangular openingswhereby they may he slipped over the tripod; angle brackets on thebottoms of the shelves adapted to contact with the flanges of said legs;said legs and brackets having openings whereby the shelves may besecured to the legs; bolts rigidly securing the brackets of one of theshelves to the legs whereby the shelf acts as a brace; and cotter pinssecuring the brackets on the other shelves to the legs.

3. A display stand comprising, in combination, a tripod support; aseries of sheet metal shelves having substantially triangular openingsadapted to be slipped over the tripod support; means to secure theshelves to the legs so that the shelves constitute braces therefor; andsupplemental, substantially triangular shelves adapted to be securedover the openings in said shelves to provide additional shelf space.

4. A display stand comprising, in combination, a tripod support havingsectional, foldable legs; a series of fabricated, substantiallychannel-shaped, sheet metal shelves presenting triangular openingswhereby they may beslipped over the tripod; bolts securing the lowershelf to the tripod so that said shelf constitutes a brace therefor; andsubstantially triangular supplemental shelf plates removably secured tothe inner edges of said shelves whereby to increase theshelf space, saidshelves adapted to be nested together for shipping.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed. my signature. I FRANK PFOUS.

